Ipe Wood Handling & Installation Guide
STORAGE AND HANDLING OF IPE WOOD
Ipe decking & dimensional items are air dried products intended for outdoor use. As with any wood product, you should air your Ipe to acclimate to your environment before installation. You may accomplish this by placing your material in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight. Do not store directly on the ground, be sure to pile or stack your decking on boards to allow for ample ventilation.
CUTTING & FASTENING IPE WOOD
Ipe’s beauty and durability; is a result of its extreme density. When cutting Ipe, we highly recommend the use of carbide saw blades. This will give you a clean, splinter-free cut. When drilling, use high quality bits.
Your Ipe deck should be installed with high quality stainless steel screws or a hidden fastener such as the Ipe Clip. All boards must be pre-drilled prior to using any screw fasteners. Boards should be installed with a 1/16” gap between boards to allow for proper drainage and ventilation.
Your deck boards will shrink over time, up to an 1/8” in a 6” wide board. When using a hidden clip fastener, apply a bead of construction adhesive on the joist before putting your board in place. The use of a Bowrench tool is highly recommended to assist in ease of installation.
END COATING & FINISHING IPE WOOD
During installation it will be necessary for you to cut your boards to length. After cutting you must seal the ends with a wax based emulsion such as Anchorseal to minimize end checking. Apply liberally, but do not get it on the face of the boards.
Your Ipe deck will age naturally to a silver gray over time. If you desire the wood to maintain a deep walnut brown appearance we recommend the application of either Messmer’s UV PLUS for hardwood decks or Penofin deck finish for hardwood decks.
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